Bicycle-carrier for street-cars.



No. 653,3i-6. Patented .luly l0. |900.

L A. HUNTER.

BICYCLE CARRIER FR STREET CARS.

(Application led. June 23, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Modal.)

@ AMW.

TH: Nonms PETERS co. Pnouummwnsumoom n. c.

No. 653,386. Patented luly lo, '|9no. A. HUNTER.

BICYCLE CARRIER FOR STREET CARS.

(Application flied June 23, 1899. (N Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

ANDREW HUNTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BICYCLE-CARRIER FOR STREET-CARS.

SPECIFICATION formlng part of Letters Patent No. 653,386, dated July 10, 1900.

Application tiled June 23,1899. Serial No. '721,669- (Nc model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Bicycle-Carriers forStreet-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements made in devices for carrying bicycles on the outside of street-railway cars; and it has for its object mainly the production of a device having several advantages in its construction and operation over similar devices for the same purpose heretofore produced, by virtue of which it is readily folded into compact form against the car when not in use, and it is applicable to most of the different kinds or styles of cars now in use on street and suburban railways. Simplicity and the necessary strength are also features attained in its construction. l

To such ends and object the said invention consists in the construct-ion of parts, as hereinafter fully described, rand pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The accompanying drawings herein referred to represent, in Figure 1, a view in perspective of the complete device, showing the upright supports broken away and the device shortened to bring the figure within the limits of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a side view, in detail and on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of one of the hangers and its carrying-arm. Fig. 3 shows details of the sliding socket on the end of the carrying-arm and the adjustable collar on the upright rod on which the socket is fitted to slide. Figs. 4 and 5 represent in side view and top view, respectively, a construction of socket that is used in situations where the carrying-arms are required to fold up perpendicularl'y against the car. Fig. 6 is a top view of the socket Fig. 4 without the swinging arm.

The complete carrier is composed of two upright rods 1 1, which are fixed against the end of the car or to the front of the dashboard, and two sets of horizontally-extending arms 2 2 3 3, each provided with a set of hangers 4 4 5 5, adapted to support and carry two bicycles. The upper or the lower arm in each pair or set is vertically adjustable on the rod 1 forthe purpose of varying the distance between the upper and the lower hangers to adapt them to different styles or sizes of wheels, and the arms are also movable around 5 5 the upright rod in a horizontal arc, so as to be folded in against the car-body or the dashboard when not in use. To this end the arm is connected to the upright rod by a sleeve 6, litted to slide and turn on the upright rod, 6o and the latter piece is supported by a collar 7, fixed on the rod 1 by a set-screw S. The vertical distance between the upperarm 2 and the lower arm 3 is altered by loosening this collar and setting it up or down on the rod. Each arm is held rigidly in position either when folded or when turned outwardly at right angles to the car and is locked in either position by means of a rib or tooth 9 on the fixed collar and a groove or recess 10 in the 7o end of the sleeve and engaging the .projection 9. This device locks the arm in'either posisition, allowing it to be opened for use or folded against the car out of the way, and by sliding the sleeve on the rod until itis disen- 7 5 gaged from the collar 7 it is free to swing in either direction. In the construction shown in the drawings the upper arm in each set is supported in this manner by an adjustable collar,while the sleeve 6 on the end of the lower 8o arm has a bearing directly on the socket-plate 12, that holds the lower end of the rod 1, and

a collar is dispensed with by placing the locking-rib 9 on the top face of this socket-plate to engage the groove in the sleeve. Two grooves 8 5 are provided in the bottom of each sleeve, one

at right angles to the other, for the purpose of locking the arm in either of thel positions before mentioned.

In situations arising from special construc- 9o tions or styles of car where it may be necessary'or more convenient to fold either or both arms vof each set perpendicularly upward against or parallel with the upright rod 1 the slidable cradle-piece (illustrated in Figs. 4 and 95 5) is employed. This part is composed ofl a cradle-piece 14, having a socket fitted tothe rod 1, and a strap 15, secured on the cradlepiece by a bolt 16. Between the side pieces of this last-named piece the end of the bracket- 1Go arm is attached by a pivot-bolt 17, forming a hinge-joint on which the arm can be turned in a vertical arc, so as to stand upward against the rod 1 or to extend horizontally outward from it. In the last-mentioned position the 14 as a cradle. Notches o1' grooves 9 in the bottom of the cradle-piece engage the standing rib 10 on the support beneath and hold the cradle-piece from turning on the rod.

The hook-shaped hangers 4 5 are fixed in sockets 18 on the bracket-arm at proper distances apart to give sufficient clearance between the bicycles that are suspended from the two sets of hangers provided on the arms, and the lower hangers are set at such distance below the upper hangers that the bottom of the wheel will rest in the lower hanger as in a cradle,when the upper hanger is passed under the rim at the top of the wheel between the spokes, so as to bring the metal rim of the wheel in the bend of the hook. The bend of these hooks is sufficiently deep to hold the wheels without special fastenings, and usually the hooks are coated or covered with rubber or some suitable material to prevent the wheels from being scratched.

Tubular metal is used both for the upright rods and the bracket-arms, and the latter are composed of short sections united by the threaded couplings 1S, in which are sockets for the ends of the hangers.

The rods 1 are fastened in place by socketplates 12 12X at top and bottom, fixed against the front of the dashboard or on the end of the car where the same is inclosed and has no dashboard, and a set of carriers is usually provided on each end of the car where propelling means other than horses, such as steam or traction-cable, is employed.

To hold the bracket-arm in position when folded upright agai'nst the rod 1, the clip 20, having spring-jaws, is fastened on the rod, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bicycle-carrier comprising the fixed upright rods, a pair of bracket-arms on each rod, consisting of an upper and a lower arm disposed one above the other and pivotally connected to swing into extended and folded positions, each arm being adjustable on its rod to vary the vertical distance between the two arms, and a pair of hook-shaped hangers on each arm, those on the upper arm being directly above those on the lower arm, substantially as described for operation as set forth.

2. In a bicyclecarrier the combination of the upright rod stationary as to position, the block 14 fitted to swing in ahorizontal plane on the rod, and also movable vertically thereon, said block having a curved recess in the top, the stirrup-piece 15, the bolts 16, 17 and the arm 2 pivotally attached to the stirrup by the bolt 17 on which it is adapted to swing in a vertical arc into extended and folded position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ANDREW HUNTER. [n 5.]

Vitnesses:

M. REGNER, EDWARD E. OsBoRN. 

